TNA MP alleges 'planned sinhalicisation' of punaanai
Tamil National Alliance MP C Yogeswaran on Sunday demanded that
immediate steps be taken to stop the aggressive and meticulously planned
sinhalicisation of Punaanai East, situated 52 km northwest of
Batticaloa city. During the times of the LTTE, the presence of the Tiger
forces from Kudumpimalai in the South to Vaakarai in the North had
thwarted the earlier attempts of sinhalicisation. In the absence of
LTTE, sinhalicisation is now rapidly taking place along the Batticaloa
and Polonnaruwa border, where Punaanai is situated. Besides occupation
by Sinhala families, Punaanai has also witnessed various instances of
Sinhalicisation such as demolition of Saiva temples in the guise of
archeological excavations and the deity in the sanctum sanctorum of a
Pi'l'laiyaar temple missing.
The location of Punaanai. Click to enlarge the map [Map by TamilNet]
Mr Yogeswaran has made the
above demand in a letter sent to SL Government Agent of the district in
which he has also alleged that a meticulously planned sinhalicisation is
being carried out in Punaanai East which comes under Koa'ra'laip-pattu
North (Vaakarai) DS divison.
Aided by the military camp in
Punaanai East and guided by a Sinhala monk who has recently constructed a
vihara, many Sinhala families have been made to systematically settle
down in the area.
It may be noted that a mere five Sinhala
families existed in Punaanai prior to 1988. These families too had
relocated to a Sinhala settlement called Kadawata out of fear of war.
Besides being beneficiaries of land and houses from the SL government,
these families have also been availing monetary assistance from Colombo
government for over two decades. Of these, two families have sold their
lands and have relocated elsewhere.
Under the circumstances, a
Buddhist monk ostensibly claiming that there was a small Buddha Vihara
in the area, constructed a lavish Vihara close to a Pi'l'laiyaar temple
on the Colombo-Batticaloa A4 highway. The monk also made the place as
his permanent residence.
The sinhalicisation is planned by the SL
State, aided by the above mentioned monk and is facilitated by the SL
military. The TNA MP has demanded the SL government to stop the
sinhalicisation with immediate effect.
The MP has also demanded
that the Indian consulate should provide houses to the Tamils living as
IDPs in Vaazhaich-cheanai and in other villages, adding that his party
was pushing for measures to resettle them.
The people have expressed concerns over settling in the area, owing to the presence of the military camp.
Alleging
that a few months ago, some Sinhalese men were roaming with an
intention to sexually harass Tamil women, the Tamils living in the area
said that they continued to face problems in trying to counter such
behavior of the Sinhalese.
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